Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PSA: Sony says counterfeit PS3 controllers could explode]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/#comments We're not sure why anyone would buy a knock-off DualShock 3 or SIXAXIS gamepad, considering the trouble Sony's taken to make sure they don't work, but the PlayStation 3 manufacturer has another reason you might want to steer clear of counterfeit pads -- they could be tiny Li-ion bombs poised to explode. Talk about force feedback! Yes, the company that brought us exploding laptop batteries says that third-party products "which are practically identical in appearance to genuine PlayStation(R)3 wireless controllers" may burst into flame, and as you might expect, Sony suggests that you run out to your nearest retailer and purchase the real deal instead.

PSA: Sony says counterfeit PS3 controllers could explode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerDualShock 3Dualshock3explodeexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryexploding controllerExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryExplodingControllergame controllerGameControllerknock-offknock-offsperipheralsPlayStationPlayStation 3Playstation3PSPS3PSAscarescare tacticsScareTacticssixaxisSonythird-partyThu, 23 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/#comments
 We had an eerie feeling it'd come to this, and come it has. Nearly two full years to the day after the government of Japan began a thorough investigation into the spontaneous combusting of iPod nano devices, that same entity is now mandating that Apple publish an "easy to understand" statement on the web that explains how customers can "receive replacement batteries and obtain advice." So far, these volatile Li-ion cells have been blamed for four cases of minor burns in the Land of the Rising Sun, and while Apple has been replacing first-generation iPod nano batteries since 2008 for those that complained, it seems that Japan wants the company to make the option readily apparent to consumers. Be sure to keep an eye on Apple's Japanese site for more, but as of now, we're not seeing any such PSA posted.

Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple ipodAppleIpodbatteryburnschargerchargingexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfirefire hazardFireHazardfixgovernmenthazardipodipod nanoIpodNanojapanlithium ionLithiumIonMA004JAma005MA005JAma099MA099JAMA107JAnanooverheatoverheatingportable audioportableaudiorecallsafetyFri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/bell-novatel-mifi-2372-deemed-unsafe-for-human-use-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/bell-novatel-mifi-2372-deemed-unsafe-for-human-use-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/bell-novatel-mifi-2372-deemed-unsafe-for-human-use-recalled/#commentsBell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled We knew there had to be a catch with the Novatel MiFi 3G routers -- they were just too convenient. But, little did we know that catch involved danger to our health and wellbeing! Bell Mobility has been sending UPS couriers around (real people holding envelopes, not unicorns) to owners of the Novatel MiFi 2372, delivering dire-sounding letters (a copy can be found after the break) telling them to discontinue use of their routers due to faulty battery packs and, if that wasn't enough, they were all remotely deactivated yesterday morning. Owners are told to send their MiFis back to the company for replacement, a process said to take a whopping six to eight weeks. Novatel is sending U998 Turbo Sticks to those affected for use in the interim, but that doesn't do you much good if your device lacks USB ports, like our unfortunate tipster's iPad. We can understand the frustration of giving up your gadget for two months, the alternative doesn't sound too appealing either.

Update: Kevin from Novatel dropped us a comment with the company's official statement. We have it after the break.

Update 2: A Novatel rep would like us to clarify that the couriers in question are from UPS, and also come equipped with return envelopes for the affected 2372s. So, if anyone from FedEx tries to deliver any documentation about this situation, it's probably a trap.

[Thanks, Justin]

Continue reading Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled

Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bellbell mobilityBellMobilityexploding batteryExplodingBatterymifimifi 2372Mifi2372novatelnovatel mifinovatel mifi 2372Novatel U998 Turbo StickNovatelMifiNovatelMifi2372NovatelU998TurboStickrecallrecalledU998 Turbo StickU998TurboStickTue, 04 May 2010 07:06:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/#comments Here's the thing: that horrifically swollen, completely destroyed battery you're peering at above isn't as rare a sight as it should be. If you'll recall, we've personally covered at least four MacBook Pro battery explosions, and we've also seen a similar amount of volatility over on the PC side. The story behind this one is as follows: a 17-inch (non-unibody) MBP owner was using his machine on a desk (thankfully), when suddenly an odd noise began to increase in volume; following that, the entire machine "jumped up" slightly and turned off, and this battery is to blame. Oh, and if this all-too-commonplace occurrence happens to you next, let's hope you aren't actually using your laptop on your, um, lap.

Gallery: MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open

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MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple macbook proAppleMacbookProbatterydangerdangerousexplodeexplodedexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionmacbook proMacbookProMBPswolen batterySwolenBatteryWed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Overheating iPhone reports 'exploding' all over France, Apple responds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/#comments Reports of iPhones exploding, starting fires and killing people in cold blood have been around since the inception of the handset. They've also been relatively sporadic, seemingly short on evidence, and Apple hasn't given complaints much credence or response. So when we heard a story from France the other day about a security guard's iPhone "exploding" and sending a shard of glass into his eye (though apparently not serious enough to warrant a hospital visit), it was a little hard to believe, but with a few other stories of cracking screens due to overheating cropping up in Europe over the past couple weeks, French authorities have taken an interest in the story. Anecdotally, a teen says his phone "imploded" in Belgium and gave him a headache, a woman's phone cracked without warning, and ten or so victims in France have come forward to complain of similar problems, picking up the interest of a French consumer watchdog group. Apple is naturally not new to the concept of overheating in its battery-powered devices -- in fact, it's just entered into its first full-on iPod nano recall in Korea of the 1st-gen players after numerous reports of battery faultiness worldwide -- but with 26 million iPhones out and about, and the iPhone 3GS tending to run a bit hotter than its siblings, a systemic problem with one or all models of the handsets isn't something consumers or Apple would take lightly.

Herve Novelli, France's top trade official, met with Apple France's Michel Coulomb today to discuss the problem, and so far Apple is sticking to its guns: it claims that reported incidents are in the single digits, and that all cases it's investigated fully so far have turned out to be blamed on "external force" to the screen. Herve and Michel seem to have parted on friendly terms, promising to keep in touch over the issue, and the EU's alert system for dangerous consumer products (inexplicably dubbed RAPEX) is staying in the loop as well, asking the 27 member nations to keep tabs on the situation. Novelli says it's "too early to blame anyone," and we'd have to agree, but we hope Apple keeps up the (freshly) open communication about this issue going forward.

Read - French minister meets Apple exec over iPhone problems
Read - Apple denies 'exploding' iPhones
Read - Apple denies battery problem with exploding iPhones
Read - Belgian teenager latest victim of exploding iPhone phenomenon

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Overheating iPhone reports 'exploding' all over France, Apple responds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecracked screenCrackedScreenexploding batteryexploding iphoneExplodingBatteryExplodingIphonefirefrancefrenchiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsmobilerapexFri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Overheating iPhone reports 'exploding' all over France, Apple responds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/28/overheating-iphone-reports-exploding-all-over-france-apple-re/#comments Reports of iPhones exploding, starting fires and killing people in cold blood have been around since the inception of the handset. They've also been relatively sporadic, seemingly short on evidence, and Apple hasn't given complaints much credence or response. So when we heard a story from France the other day about a security guard's iPhone "exploding" and sending a shard of glass into his eye (though apparently not serious enough to warrant a hospital visit), it was a little hard to believe, but with a few other stories of cracking screens due to overheating cropping up in Europe over the past couple weeks, French authorities have taken an interest in the story. Anecdotally, a teen says his phone "imploded" in Belgium and gave him a headache, a woman's phone cracked without warning, and ten or so victims in France have come forward to complain of similar problems, picking up the interest of a French consumer watchdog group. Apple is naturally not new to the concept of overheating in its battery-powered devices -- in fact, it's just entered into its first full-on iPod nano recall in Korea of the 1st-gen players after numerous reports of battery faultiness worldwide -- but with 26 million iPhones out and about, and the iPhone 3GS tending to run a bit hotter than its siblings, a systemic problem with one or all models of the handsets isn't something consumers or Apple would take lightly.

Herve Novelli, France's top trade official, met with Apple France's Michel Coulomb today to discuss the problem, and so far Apple is sticking to its guns: it claims that reported incidents are in the single digits, and that all cases it's investigated fully so far have turned out to be blamed on "external force" to the screen. Herve and Michel seem to have parted on friendly terms, promising to keep in touch over the issue, and the EU's alert system for dangerous consumer products (inexplicably dubbed RAPEX) is staying in the loop as well, asking the 27 member nations to keep tabs on the situation. Novelli says it's "too early to blame anyone," and we'd have to agree, but we hope Apple keeps up the (freshly) open communication about this issue going forward.

Read - French minister meets Apple exec over iPhone problems
Read - Apple denies 'exploding' iPhones
Read - Apple denies battery problem with exploding iPhones
Read - Belgian teenager latest victim of exploding iPhone phenomenon

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Overheating iPhone reports 'exploding' all over France, Apple responds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecracked screenCrackedScreenexploding batteryexploding iphoneExplodingBatteryExplodingIphonefirefrancefrenchiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsrapexFri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/#comments
Apple's got a lot of problems when it comes to overheating iPod batteries -- not only is the situation potentially dangerous, every move Cupertino makes is subject to sensational misinterpretation. Take today's Times UK story this morning about 11-year-old Ellie Stanborough, whose iPod touch blew itself up last month: when her father Ken contacted Apple for a refund, it seems he got a little bit of a runaround, but was eventually sent a settlement agreement offering a full refund if the family agreed to keep the deal confidential. That's actually totally standard practice when companies settle out-of-warranty claims, but since the agreement was written by lawyers, it contained a bunch of vaguely threatening language about how breaking confidentiality might result in Apple relentlessly suing everyone until Liverpool itself goes bankrupt and the populace is forced to resort to cannibalism and network television. Cue hysterical media coverage.

Now, it's no secret that lithium-ion batteries like those used in the iPod have a long history of overheating and exploding, and Apple's certainly had large-scale problems with defective cells -- the first-gen iPod nano has been recalled in Korea and Japan, for example. It's also obvious that the sheer number of iPods sold means there are more exploding iPods than anything else -- and while we're sure some accountant at Apple has a spreadsheet showing the exact failure rate is acceptable, all we've got right now is story after story of these things blowing up with zero context. So here's our suggestion to Apple: maybe instead of having lawyers draft individual settlement agreements full of impenetrable and scary legalese for each and every jilted iPod owner out there, why not simply fess up to the problem, let people know exactly how common it is and how to avoid it, and provide a dead-simple replacement option for people who've had their iPods go up in smoke? That would put everyone at ease, and make these types of stories much less likely to blow up in a media feeding frenzy. Or, you know, do nothing because overwhelming market share inevitably leads to arrogant laziness -- your call.

[Via TUAW]

Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleexplodingexploding batteryexploding ipodExplodingBatteryipodipod touchIpodTouchlithium ionlithium ion batterieslithium-ionLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesMon, 03 Aug 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/#comments
Just a note to everyone who carries around a spare smartphone Li-ion in their rear pocket: buy thicker underwear. The scene you see above was all caused by an obviously volatile HTC Touch Pro battery, one that the pants-wearer claims is an authentic HTC cell and not a cheap-o alternative from eBay. As the story goes, a foul odor led him to a laundry pile, where he uncovered eight moist socks, a torched battery and a ruined pair of pants. Look, we're glad this guy's okay and all, but seriously, can you imagine what this testy little thing would've done when tossed into the dryer? It's a blessing in disguise, kiddo.

[Via phoneArena]

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HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery explosionBatteryExplosionburnerexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfirefire hazardFireHazardhazardHTCmobileoverheatoverheatingperipheralssmartphonetouchtouch proTouchProThu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/#comments
Just a note to everyone who carries around a spare smartphone Li-ion in their rear pocket: buy thicker underwear. The scene you see above was all caused by an obviously volatile HTC Touch Pro battery, one that the pants-wearer claims is an authentic HTC cell and not a cheap-o alternative from eBay. As the story goes, a foul odor led him to a laundry pile, where he uncovered eight moist socks, a torched battery and a ruined pair of pants. Look, we're glad this guy's okay and all, but seriously, can you imagine what this testy little thing would've done when tossed into the dryer? It's a blessing in disguise, kiddo.

[Via phoneArena]

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HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery explosionBatteryExplosionburnerexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfirefire hazardFireHazardhazardHTCoverheatoverheatingsmartphonetouchtouch proTouchProThu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding iPod touch sets kid's pants on fire, melts his underwear, causes untold emotional pain]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/exploding-ipod-touch-sets-kids-pants-on-fire-melts-his-underwe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/exploding-ipod-touch-sets-kids-pants-on-fire-melts-his-underwe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/exploding-ipod-touch-sets-kids-pants-on-fire-melts-his-underwe/#comments
An Ohio mom is filing a lawsuit against Apple on behalf of her son, whose "iTouch" popped in his pocket and proceeded to torch his pants. He had to be treated for second degree burns on his leg, had a hole burnt through his pants pocket and got an underwear melting to top it all off. Also, according to the lawsuit, "He continues to suffer from both physical and mental conditions which will cause him to suffer pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of his life." Poor kid! In addition to Apple, the lawsuit seemingly randomly names 10 Apple retail employees, and wants $150,000+ and attorney fees in damages. While we've seen a couple burnt charging cables of late, this is the first we've heard of an iPod touch "popping," and it's especially odd because the lawsuit claims the iPod was turned off at the time of the incident. Whether or not that's true, we'll be certainly keeping an eye on a trend developing here. When it comes to our children, burning pants are everyone's business.

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Exploding iPod touch sets kid's pants on fire, melts his underwear, causes untold emotional pain originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryburnexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfireipod touchIpodTouchpantsportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoFri, 13 Mar 2009 21:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/#comments
While some of the details still seem to be up in the air at the moment, it looks like that exploding cellphone battery that killed a man shopping at a Lenovo store in mainland China a couple of weeks back was actually not a cellphone battery at all, but rather an actual firearm of some sort. According to some roughly translated reports from Sohu.com, the "imitation firearm with bullets" suddenly fell to the ground at one point, which caused the bullets to fire up into the man's chest and neck arteries, leading to massive blood loss. The Telegraph newspaper further adds that the gun, which they describe as a home-made pistol, also damaged the man's cellphone when it went off, leading to the initial suspicion that the battery may be to blame. So there you have it, folks, while cellphones may or may not kill people, guns (makeshift or otherwise) certainly do.

Read - Sohu.com
Read - Telegraph.co.uk

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Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>explodingexploding batteryexploding cellphoneExplodingBatteryExplodingCellphonefirearmgunmobileTue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/10/exploding-cellphone-battery-that-killed-chinese-man-was-actually/#comments
While some of the details still seem to be up in the air at the moment, it looks like that exploding cellphone battery that killed a man shopping at a Lenovo store in mainland China a couple of weeks back was actually not a cellphone battery at all, but rather an actual firearm of some sort. According to some roughly translated reports from Sohu.com, the "imitation firearm with bullets" suddenly fell to the ground at one point, which caused the bullets to fire up into the man's chest and neck arteries, leading to massive blood loss. The Telegraph newspaper further adds that the gun, which they describe as a home-made pistol, also damaged the man's cellphone when it went off, leading to the initial suspicion that the battery may be to blame. So there you have it, folks, while cellphones may or may not kill people, guns (makeshift or otherwise) certainly do.

Read - Sohu.com
Read - Telegraph.co.uk

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Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>explodingexploding batteryexploding cellphoneExplodingBatteryExplodingCellphonefirearmgunTue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony recalls are killing the bottom line]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/05/sony-recalls-killing-the-bottom-line/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/05/sony-recalls-killing-the-bottom-line/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/05/sony-recalls-killing-the-bottom-line/#comments
Look Sony, nobody's rooting for your recovery more than your pals at Engadget. But seriously, two major recalls -- first the $200+ million battery fiasco now 440,000 VAIOs -- in two years? No wonder your stock is at a 3-year low.

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Sony recalls are killing the bottom line originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exploding batteryExplodingBatteryfinancialrecallsonyvaioFri, 05 Sep 2008 05:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan investigates exploding first generation iPod nanos, again (update: issues consumer warning)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/19/japan-investigates-exploding-first-generation-ipod-nanos-again/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/19/japan-investigates-exploding-first-generation-ipod-nanos-again/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/19/japan-investigates-exploding-first-generation-ipod-nanos-again/#comments
Look, it's pretty clear that the lithium-ion battery in the first generation iPod nano has the potential to burst into flames. Seriously, how many more cases do we have to see? Even after giving Apple a stern talking-to and ferocious wag of the finger back in March, Japan's government is once again investigating possible battery defects that caused a pair of Tokyo nanos to burn: nano model MA099 recently singed a piece of nearby paper while a model MA005 nano burned a traditional tatami mat in January (no injuries were reported).

Presumably Apple is calculating the cost-of-recall at this very moment. In other words, take the number of 1st gen nanos in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, they don't do one.

Update: Japan has issued a warning to iPod nano users saying, "Users need to be careful about overheating of the machines," particularly when charging the players. Japan's government has reported a total of 14 similar incidents to Apple related to models MA004J/A, MA005J/A, MA099J/A and MA107J/A all sold between September '05 and September '06 -- two of which resulted in minor burns. NHK claims that Apple does not plan a recall but is ready to exchange defective parts.

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Japan investigates exploding first generation iPod nanos, again (update: issues consumer warning) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfireipod nanoIpodNanojapanlithium ionLithiumIonMA004JAma005MA005JAma099MA099JAMA107JAportable audioportableaudiorecallTue, 19 Aug 2008 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[LG confirms that its laptop batteries are safe]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/lg-confirms-that-its-laptop-batteries-are-safe/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/lg-confirms-that-its-laptop-batteries-are-safe/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/14/lg-confirms-that-its-laptop-batteries-are-safe/#commentsAlthough laptop batteries aren't catching fire nearly as frequently lately, every now and again one still seems to spark off -- but LG wants you to know that its batteries are safe. The Korean mega-conglomerate said that it's wrapped up an investigation into reports that surfaced last month about an LG-sourced battery exploding in a reporter's laptop, and that it was apparently a freak accident. According to LG, "Under normal conditions, it is not possible for a notebook PC battery to combust." Uh, sure it's not, guys -- you keep telling yourselves that, and we'll keep blogging in these goggles and red Nomex capes. Deal?

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LG confirms that its laptop batteries are safe originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryexploding laptopExplodingBatteryExplodingLaptoplgli-onThu, 14 Feb 2008 01:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony PSP sends kid to hospital with leg burns -- that'll teach him to play it in school]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/sony-psp-sends-kid-to-hospital-with-leg-burns-thatll-teach-h/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/sony-psp-sends-kid-to-hospital-with-leg-burns-thatll-teach-h/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/06/sony-psp-sends-kid-to-hospital-with-leg-burns-thatll-teach-h/#comments
A Michigan Middle School student learned the hard way about bringing video games to school when his PSP battery overheated in his pocket during band practice, sending him to the hospital with leg burns. Apparently students are allowed to bring the systems to school as long as they don't play them during school hours -- a policy which we're sure the children follow to the letter. There's no word from Sony on the incident yet, or whether the kid was using a shady third party battery inside the system.

[Thanks, Robin W; image courtesy of Jakob L]

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Sony PSP sends kid to hospital with leg burns -- that'll teach him to play it in school originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're fairly certain this BoringTrash fellow's statement that his IBM ThinkPad R50e "tried to kill" him is a bit unfair -- it appears to us that the R50e was merely attempting to get him out of the way so that it could completely devour his bed. The best part of it all is that the three-year-old exploding laptop still works when plugged into an external monitor, but BoringTrash is keeping this one away from mattresses for the time being.

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Exploding ThinkPad attacks man, burns through bed originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exploding batteryExplodingBatteryr50ethinkpadSat, 19 Jan 2008 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[HP facing lawsuit over exploding Presario, injured daughter]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/hp-facing-lawsuit-over-exploding-presario-injured-daughter/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/hp-facing-lawsuit-over-exploding-presario-injured-daughter/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/hp-facing-lawsuit-over-exploding-presario-injured-daughter/#commentsA Little Rock, Arkansas man is taking HP to court over a faulty Compaq Presario that he says is to blame for burning his house down and causing serious injury to his daughter. The Wal-Mart-bought computer seemed perfectly fine until it suddenly burst into flames, catching his entire house on fire. His daughter had to jump out of a second story window to escape the fire, and sustained burns, physical injuries and "extreme mental anguish." As if it wasn't bad enough having a Presario in the first place. The lawsuit names unspecified monetary damages.

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HP facing lawsuit over exploding Presario, injured daughter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compaqexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfirehppresarioTue, 15 Jan 2008 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM sues Shentech for selling volatile counterfeit batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/#commentsIt's not like ThinkPads have been immune to the notorious overheating battery issue, but a fiery incident in Ohio may not be IBM's fault. In a somewhat bizarre tale, it's reported that an Ohioan purchased a replacement battery from Shentech for his ThinkPad, only to later have it overheat, catch on fire and damage his machine. After discovering that the faulty cell was actually a counterfeit, IBM took the liberty of ordering a dozen batteries from the Flushing, New York-based company, and it soon discovered that all twelve received were indeed fakes. As you can probably guess, IBM has filed suit against the outfit and has asked the court to require Shentech to hand over all of its batteries for destruction, profits it made from selling the fakes and a million dollars "per counterfeit mark per type of item sold." That'll teach 'em to mess with Big Blue.

[Via TGDaily]

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IBM sues Shentech for selling volatile counterfeit batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycounterfeitexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionibmlawsuitlegallenovoShentechsuesuitThinkPadFri, 30 Nov 2007 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Man charged with manslaughter in "exploding battery" case]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/#commentsIn one of the more bizarre turns we've seen stories take, new information has come to light in the recent exploding battery death we reported on. It turns out that the LG battery which had initially been blamed for the "accident" wasn't the cause at all, rather, a co-worker of the victim has admitted to hitting the man with a 15-ton hydraulic rig while driving in reverse, and has been charged with manslaughter. Kwon Young-sup, who had originally reported that he had heard an explosion and discovered the man's body, has now told police that he invented the story as a cover-up for an accident. So, you can now return to placing calls on your LG without fear -- but watch your back on the job-site.

[Via Sky News, thanks Barry T, image courtesy of Yonhap News]

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Man charged with manslaughter in "exploding battery" case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentexploding batteryExplodingBatterylgmanslaughtermobilesouth koreaSouthKoreaFri, 30 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Man charged with manslaughter in "exploding battery" case]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/man-charged-with-manslaughter-in-exploding-battery-case/#commentsIn one of the more bizarre turns we've seen stories take, new information has come to light in the recent exploding battery death we reported on. It turns out that the LG battery which had initially been blamed for the "accident" wasn't the cause at all, rather, a co-worker of the victim has admitted to hitting the man with a 15-ton hydraulic rig while driving in reverse, and has been charged with manslaughter. Kwon Young-sup, who had originally reported that he had heard an explosion and discovered the man's body, has now told police that he invented the story as a cover-up for an accident. So, you can now return to placing calls on your LG without fear -- but watch your back on the job-site.

[Via Sky News, thanks Barry T, image courtesy of Yonhap News]

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Man charged with manslaughter in "exploding battery" case originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentexploding batteryExplodingBatterylgmanslaughtersouth koreaSouthKoreaFri, 30 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/#commentsThis certainly won't be the first time that an exploding cellphone battery has been pegged with blame before all the facts shook out, but now it seems that the South Korean worker who perished yesterday was in fact not killed by his mobile. Reportedly, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation "said the injuries were too substantial to have been caused by a battery explosion," and an unnamed medical examiner was quoted as saying that it was "difficult to conclude that the damage of internal organs was caused by [the explosion]." Details are still likely to unfold in the coming weeks, as it will be about a fortnight before autopsy results are analyzed and a final conclusion is drawn. Seems that "virtually impossible" notion from LG may be accurate after all, eh?

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News]

Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterydeathdieexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionkillkoreamobilesouth koreasouth koreanSouthKoreaSouthKoreanThu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/#commentsThis certainly won't be the first time that an exploding cellphone battery has been pegged with blame before all the facts shook out, but now it seems that the South Korean worker who perished yesterday was in fact not killed by his mobile. Reportedly, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation "said the injuries were too substantial to have been caused by a battery explosion," and an unnamed medical examiner was quoted as saying that it was "difficult to conclude that the damage of internal organs was caused by [the explosion]." Details are still likely to unfold in the coming weeks, as it will be about a fortnight before autopsy results are analyzed and a final conclusion is drawn. Seems that "virtually impossible" notion from LG may be accurate after all, eh?

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News]

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Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterydeathdieexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionkillkoreasouth koreasouth koreanSouthKoreaSouthKoreanThu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean man killed by exploding cellphone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/#commentsSouth Korea, which has already seen two people supposedly struck by lightning drawn to their cellphones, has now experienced its first death due to an exploding handset battery. According to the AP, a quarry worker was found dead Wednesday with the remnants of an LG mobile melted into his shirt pocket, much like the welder who died under similar tragic circumstances this summer in China. For its part, while acknowledging that one of its phones was indeed the culprit, LG reportedly claimed that dying due to such an accident was "virtually impossible."

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Korean man killed by exploding cellphone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentexploding batteryExplodingBatterylgmobilesouth koreaSouthKoreaWed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean man killed by exploding cellphone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/28/korean-man-killed-by-exploding-cellphone/#commentsSouth Korea, which has already seen two people supposedly struck by lightning drawn to their cellphones, has now experienced its first death due to an exploding handset battery. According to the AP, a quarry worker was found dead Wednesday with the remnants of an LG mobile melted into his shirt pocket, much like the welder who died under similar tragic circumstances this summer in China. For its part, while acknowledging that one of its phones was indeed the culprit, LG reportedly claimed that dying due to such an accident was "virtually impossible."

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Korean man killed by exploding cellphone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentexploding batteryExplodingBatterysouth koreaSouthKoreaWed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/#commentsWe've seen some strange devices catch fire due to faulty batteries, but this one just may take top honors. Apparently, a pair of Tektronix oscilloscopes (model numbers TDS3000 and TDS3000B) have the potential of catching fire; according to the company, it has received two reports of the units "burning at customer sites." Upon closer inspection, it was noticed that the machines both relied on a TDS3BATB Li-ion battery, which is now carrying the blame for the unexpected blazes. If you or a loved one just so happen to own or use one of these rigs in your everyday life, Tektronix is suggesting that you power it down and stop using the battery until further notice.

[Via TheInquirer]

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Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexplodeexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionexpolodingfirehazardli-ionoscilloscopeoscilloscopesTDS 3000BTds3000bTDS3BATBTektronixTEXTRONIXTue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/#comments Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory related to the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That's right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of "dislodge." According to the release, "in very rare cases" the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit leading to an explosive burn. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, "no serious injuries or property damage have been reported." Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you're unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge.

Update: We just received word from Nokia that the "overheating" referred to in their advisory will not result in an explosion or even a fire. At worst, batteries will "overheat, expand, and pop out of the phone (due to the expansion of the battery)." Of course, it states right on the battery that it "may explode if damaged" and "do not short circuit" so this little clarification likely won't make you feel any better now will it?

Read -- Product advisory for BL-5C battery
Read -- List of affected Nokia phones and Battery IDs

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Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advisorybl-5cbreaking newsBreakingNewsexploding batteryExplodingBatteryMatsushitamobilenokiaTue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/#comments Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory for the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That's right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of "dislodge." According to the release, "in very rare cases" the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit leading to an explosive burn. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, "no serious injuries or property damage have been reported." Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you're unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge.

Update: We just received word from Nokia that the "overheating" referred to in their advisory will not result in an explosion or even a fire. At worst, batteries will "overheat, expand, and pop out of the phone (due to the expansion of the battery)." Of course, it states right on the battery that it "may explode if damaged" and "do not short circuit" so this little clarification likely won't make you feel any better now will it?

Read -- Product advisory for BL-5C battery
Read -- List of affected Nokia phones and Battery IDs

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Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advisorybatterybl-5cbreaking newsBreakingNewsexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryMatsushitanokiaTue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese couple sues Sony and Apple over burning battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/japanese-couple-sues-sony-and-apple-over-burning-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/japanese-couple-sues-sony-and-apple-over-burning-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/japanese-couple-sues-sony-and-apple-over-burning-battery/#comments
A Japanese couple in Tokyo are suing both Sony and Apple Japan for "over" 2 million yen ($16,700 US, quite conservative if you ask us Yanks) over a laptop battery which caught fire in April of last year. The suit argues that the man suffered burns on his finger when the battery burst into flames while being used, and his wife had to be treated for mental distress due to the incident. Of course, this isn't surprising considering the long-acknowledged problems with the recalled Sony-built batteries, and is probably just a sign of things to come as scarred users seek a righteous vengeance against companies that openly admit wrongdoing. Sony better just hope that they didn't make this battery.

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Japanese couple sues Sony and Apple over burning battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebatteriesbattery recallBatteryRecallexploding batteryExplodingBatteryjapanlegalsonyWed, 25 Jul 2007 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/#commentsIt's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and unfortunately, the latest case of exploding battery syndrome led to something far worse than a minor injury. Reportedly, a 22-year old Chinese welder actually perished after a cellphone battery residing in his pocket exploded. The eruption was so violent, in fact, that it "broke a rib and drove the remnants of the pack into his heart," and while rescue crews were able to get him to a hospital, he passed away shortly thereafter. Currently, the manufacturer of the phone and battery are being withheld, but expects in Jinta were dispatched in order to conduct an investigation.

[Via Inquirer, image courtesy of ABC]

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Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterychinesedeathexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryexplosioninjurykillmishapweldingThu, 05 Jul 2007 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/#commentsIt's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and unfortunately, the latest case of exploding battery syndrome led to something far worse than a minor injury. Reportedly, a 22-year old Chinese welder actually perished after a cellphone battery residing in his pocket exploded. The eruption was so violent, in fact, that it "broke a rib and drove the remnants of the pack into his heart," and while rescue crews were able to get him to a hospital, he passed away shortly thereafter. Currently, the manufacturer of the phone and battery are being withheld, but expects in Jinta were dispatched in order to conduct an investigation.

[Via Inquirer, image courtesy of ABC]

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Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterychinesedeathexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryexplosioninjurykillmishapmobileweldingThu, 05 Jul 2007 00:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Gateway issues recall for 400VTX and 450ROG Li-ion batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/#commentsJust when you were absolutely certain the voluntary recalls regarding potentially explosive Li-ions were finally complete, here comes yet another vendor claiming that your lappie just might have a problem. This time around, Gateway has proclaimed that "about 14,000" of the lithium-ion battery packs that shipped with its 400VTX and 450ROG series machines "could possibly overheat and pose a fire hazard to consumers." The packs can reportedly be identified by 6500760 or 6500761 part numbers and a "made by SMP" label on the underside of the Li-ion. To date, four reports of "overheating" and a case of minor property damage have been accounted for, so if you just happen to be viewing these very words on one of the aforementioned devices, it's time to get your RMA on.

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Gateway issues recall for 400VTX and 450ROG Li-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfiregatewayhazardli-ionrecallwarningTue, 19 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding iPod dies gruesome death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/#comments
Oh dear, just when we thought we'd had our fill of exploding Apple devices, along comes an Australian forum member named eeno who saw his first generation iPod nano go up in flames, and has some snuff-esque pics of the aftermath. As is usually the case with these things, eeno's iPod was charging when it happened. He says the force of the battery's explosion sent the iPod off his PC onto the floor, where it continued to smoke and spark until he unplugged the USB charging cable from the back of his computer. Since his iPod is out of warranty, the local computer repair shop didn't do him much good, but they did take a few pics to send to Apple. Hopefully this iPod was just an anomaly, and we won't be seeing a whole wave of these explosions as 1G nanos exit their warranties and head towards retirement -- but somehow we fear the worst.

[Thanks, Kip HT]

Gallery: Exploding iPod dies gruesome death

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Exploding iPod dies gruesome death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionipodipod nanoIpodNanoportable audioportableaudioThu, 12 Apr 2007 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi recalls 16,000 Sony laptop batteries, too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/hitachi-recalls-16-000-sony-laptop-batteries-too/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/hitachi-recalls-16-000-sony-laptop-batteries-too/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/06/hitachi-recalls-16-000-sony-laptop-batteries-too/#commentsOh Hitachi, you too? Joining the ranks now of, well, pretty much anyone wheelin' and dealin' a laptop these days, Hitachi just issued a recall on 16,000 Sony-made lithium-ion batteries shipped mostly to businesses in Japan. So, let's tally it up: if you or your buds are proud owners of a laptop from Dell, Apple, Fujitsu, Lenovo, IBM, Toshiba, Panasonic (are we missing any?) and now Hitachi, you'd best be checking those lists to if you've got a potential burner on your hands. Oh, and be sure to tell your friends and neighbors of this massive general recall, who knows, you could be a hero. Acer, HP, you next?

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Hitachi recalls 16,000 Sony laptop batteries, too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery recallBatteryRecallexploding batteryExplodingBatterylithium ion batteryLithiumIonBatterysony batterySonyBatteryFri, 06 Oct 2006 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu recalls 287,000 notebook batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/#commentsFujitsu has put a number on its recent recall of Sony-manufactured notebook batteries, with 287,000 Fujitsu notebook owners being affected. This latest figure brings the total number of Sony battery recalls in recent months to more than 7.5 million, of which the vast majority (5.9 million) are from Dell and Apple. Although this appears to be a pre-emptive recall -- as far as the company can tell, no Fujitsu laptops have actually exploded -- the company is still recommending that its users give them a call if their machine is one of the 20+ models listed.

Read - Affected models
Read - Fujitsu announcement

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Fujitsu recalls 287,000 notebook batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplebatteryBattery recallBatteryRecallDellExploding BatteryExplodingBatteryExplosionFujitsuRecallSonyWed, 04 Oct 2006 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell recalls 100,000 more batteries while Toshiba and Fujitsu join the fray]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/29/dell-recalls-100-000-more-batteries-while-toshiba-and-fujitsu-jo/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/29/dell-recalls-100-000-more-batteries-while-toshiba-and-fujitsu-jo/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/29/dell-recalls-100-000-more-batteries-while-toshiba-and-fujitsu-jo/#comments It took them long enough, but it looks like Sony is really coming clean on this battery issue, and urging all affected manufacturers to get on the recall bandwagon. Toshiba is recalling 840,000 batteries across a wide swath of their laptop lines, in addition to the 340,000 they recalled a couple of weeks ago for an unrelated power-loss issue. Fujitsu is recalling Sony-made batteries from 19 of its laptop models, but no word on exact quantity of laptops. Dell is also expanding their own recall, with 100,000 more batteries due to "additional information" they've recently received about the batteries from Sony. Oddly enough, while Sony seems to be encouraging all OEMs to get going on a recall, we still haven't seen a recall for Sony's own laptops -- which seem to be just as defective as the rest of them, peep that picture above -- but hopefully Sony will be fessing up to those soon so we can all be one big, happy screwed-by-Sony family.

Read - More headaches for Sony over batteries
Read - Dell recalls 100,000 more battery packs

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Dell recalls 100,000 more batteries while Toshiba and Fujitsu join the fray originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterydellexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfujitsusonytoshibaFri, 29 Sep 2006 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony is investigating Lenovo fires]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/23/sony-is-investigating-lenovo-fires/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/23/sony-is-investigating-lenovo-fires/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/23/sony-is-investigating-lenovo-fires/#comments We suppose "We Didn't Start the Fire" is quite the popular tune around the Sony HQ these days, but, unfortunately, that statement seems to be proving increasingly false. After a recent rash of violent Lenovo battery explosions, Sony claims they're "investigating" the fires, specifically the LAX incident. Sony apparently thinks there is no official confirmation that the battery in the PC was Sony-made, but we've got a lot of empirical evidence that has us betting otherwise. Lenovo wasn't available for comment, but it doesn't seem far-fetched that we could have the making of a fourth major Sony battery recall in the recent weeks.

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Sony is investigating Lenovo fires originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfireibmlenovosonythinkpadSat, 23 Sep 2006 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/#comments It appears that the exploding IBM ThinkPad that we spotted last week at LAX may not have been a fluke after all. Telsa Gwynne, wife of famed Linux kernel programmer Alan Cox, describes on her website how her husband's ThinkPad battery suddenly exploded last night (see the photo on the next page), after which "a couple of fires started where the (presumably) boiling battery landed," with one of the fragments taking out a nearby LCD monitor. Alan sustained a few minor burns, but other than the laptop itself there were no serious injuries, thankfully. Telsa does note, however, that the battery was third-party and was bought on eBay, so it may not be an authentic IBM pack at all. Still, somebody needs to get to the bottom of this, like, now -- after the Apple, Dell, Panasonic, and Toshiba recalls, the public demands and deserves complete and rapid disclosure.

Update: We traded emails with Alan Cox and have posted some of our questions and answers with him on the next page.

Continue reading Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes

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Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsexplodeexplodingexploding batteryexploding laptopExplodingBatteryExplodingLaptopibmthinkpadwalesFri, 22 Sep 2006 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[New switch puts an end to exploding batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/#comments

Check it Sony, 'cause if necessity is the mother of invention then you're about to be calling the ETRI daddy. Coming a bit too late for some, ETRI (Telecommunications Research Institute of Korea) have developed what they call a Critical Temperature Switch to prevent exploding batteries in mobile devices. Smaller, but more reliable than ceramic sensors, the new switches use a Mott Metal-Insulator Transistor or MIT, to prevent batteries from swelling and exploding in a violent discharge triggered by overheating. Ultimately, ETRI expects to integrate over 16,000 of the Critical Temperature Switches or 5,000 explosion-proof systems into a film just 2-inches in diameter. For the time being, they are looking for partners to develop their commercially ready technologies into product. Hey Sony, you paying attention?

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New switch puts an end to exploding batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>critical temperature switchCriticalTemperatureSwitchETRIexploding batteryExplodingBatteryMITmobileMott Metal-Insulator TransistorMottMetal-insulatorTransistorThu, 21 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST<![CDATA[New switch puts an end to exploding batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/21/new-switch-puts-an-end-to-exploding-batteries/#comments

Check it Sony, 'cause if necessity is the mother of invention then you're about to be calling the ETRI daddy. Coming a bit too late for some, ETRI (Telecommunications Research Institute of Korea) have developed what they call a Critical Temperature Switch to prevent exploding batteries in mobile devices. Smaller, but more reliable than ceramic sensors, the new switches use a Mott Metal-Insulator Transistor or MIT, to prevent batteries from swelling and exploding in a violent discharge triggered by overheating. Ultimately, ETRI expects to integrate over 16,000 of the Critical Temperature Switches or 5,000 explosion-proof systems into a film just 2-inches in diameter. For the time being, they are looking for partners to develop their commercially ready technologies into product. Hey Sony, you paying attention?

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New switch puts an end to exploding batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Breaking NewsBreakingNewscritical temperature switchCriticalTemperatureSwitchETRIexploding batteryExplodingBatteryMITMott Metal-Insulator TransistorMottMetal-insulatorTransistorThu, 21 Sep 2006 08:25:00 EST